The Republican journal., 1887-05-05
e A. F. S0UThW0RTH
Mr.. Blalne's New Book.

Mr.. Blainc's latest literary wolk Las
just been published by the Henry Bill
Publishing Company. 1t is handsomely
printed octave of more than 500 pages,
containing political speeches and writings
legislative, diplomatic and popular, OF
Mr., Blaine, from 1856 to 1866
We have examined the pages of this
work with a great deal Of interest They
contain the best record and picture of
Mr.. Blaine's public life yet published. In
then. We see him as i'll Il mirror. They
place him before US as he was when he
first entered Congress. when he mingled
in high debate in the national legislature,
and when he addressed the popular as
semblages If this and other 5 ates. 1t is
not what some other person has said Of
Mr Blaine which impresses us in these
pages, but 1t is what he said upon great
questions OF Importance 1t is us though
he were speaking and We listening to the
ringing Voice and imprisoned speech Of
the living orator.
The volume opens with the rcprOduc-
ton of Il speech delivered in Litchtield
kennebcc county. in 1856, after his re-
turn from the national convention which
nominated Fremont, tn which he VAS II
delegate. This was his maiden political
speech. 1t is followed by IL speech de
livered at a Republican mass meeting in
Pennington, July /, 1860, the occasion
being the formal opening Of the Repub-
lican campaign for that year. The sub
ject was the bred Scott decision and the
free trade experiment oflS46 1861. Two
years afterwards Mr.. Blaine was nomlnat-
ed as the Republican candidate for Con-
greSS for this congressional district and
elected. His speech before the conven-
ton accepting the nomination is found in
this volume. Then the rebellion was the
all-absorbing theme. pom this subject
he was decided and emphatic. ''The
great object with Us all he said, lis to
subfHc the rebellion speedily etlectual
~, finally. In our march % that end We
must crush all intervening obstacles. If
slavery, or any other institution stands in
the way it must be removed. Perish all
things else, the national life n u,t be pre-
served" The next speech is one dellv-
cred in the House of Representatives
April, 1864. In this Mr.. Blaine main
tanned the financial ability of the nation
to cope with the rebellion. The speech
is a remarkable statement of the re-
sources of the nation, and displays Il
strength of courage and wisdom not ey-
celled by any utterance of the boldest
statesmen then prominent Congress.
Among the contents Of this book will
be found the greater part Of Mr.. Blaines
most important speeches. They takeup
the subject Of currency, gold and silver,
reconstruction Of the South, representa-
ton i'll Congress, the national honor and
the payment of the debt, taxation of
Cnited States bonds, municipal debt in
the United States, remUnet iZaton of sill
yer, the Halifax award, progress of the
northwest, southern abuse of the cleo
ton franchise, Chinese immigration, ma
tiona sovereignty against State SOY
erelgnty, encouragement vi American
shipbuiding and the /: viyal OF American
commerce on the ocean, and others which
we have not space to mention. Mr..
Blaine's diplomatic correspondence Is
published quite fully. ltattords evidence
of craftsmanship different from that
found in his political speeches, evidence
that but for the sudden and sad events
that shortened his term as Secretary Of
State this government would have stood
higher among the nations of the earth
than ever before.
/ The volume closes With department
devoted to the political discussions" If
Mr. Blaine. The subjects are With
drawal ol Invitations to Peace Con-
gress Foreign Policy of the Garfield
Administration Mr.. Blaine's Letter Ac-
ceptilg the Republican Nomination for
the Presidency in l--4 Speeches before
the people during the Presidential Can
vasS Of 1854 After the Presidential Flee
ton OF l,S4; Memorial Services in honor
of General Grant in Augusta, Me, Aug.
:, 1853; The Irish Question; Political
Issues in lSS6 Memorial Address.
The whole makes Il volume of especial
interest to all who desire to he we'll in
formed in regard to the political utter
ances of the foremost public man in this
country and the peer of any public man
i'll any other country. 1t is a fitting com
panon volume to Twenty Years of Con-
gress,' an appropriate supplement 10
that splendid work. kennebcc journal,